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Member Since 2004
Ambrose Jearld Jr
Retired, Retired
Ambrose Jearld began serving as Director of Academic Programs at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in 2004. In this capacity, he provides oversight and leadership to NEFSC's efforts in education that range from kindergarten through postdoctoral studies. As a founding member of the Woods Hole Diversity Initiative, he has served as chair of the Diversity Advisory Committee since 2004 and since 2009 as Director of the Woods Hole Partnership Education Program, a consortium of six scientific institutions committed to increasing diversity in the Woods Hole science community. Jearld conducted research and taught biology, ecology, and animal behavior as an assistant professor at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and at Howard University in Washington, DC, prior to joining NOAA Fisheries at the NEFSC in 1978 as chief of the Fishery Biology Branch. In 1985 he became chief of the Research Planning and Evaluation Section and in 1997 became chief of the Research Planning and Coordination staff before assuming his current position. He has also served as adjunct professor of biology at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore since 1983. He has led various local, regional, national and international efforts in education and outreach to improve fishery and ocean sciences and to attract and retain future scientists. He holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Zoology from Oklahoma State University and a B.S. in biology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Professional Experience
NOAA Fisheries Woods Hole Laboratory
Director of Academic Programs
Retired
Retired
Education
Doctorate
1975
Ambrose's AGU Research
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Volunteer Experience
2018 - 2018
Member
AGU Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee
2017 - 2018
Member
AGU Talent Pool Advisory Board
2017 - 2018
Member
Council
Honors & Awards
Warren Washington Lifetime Achievement Award for Advancing Inclusive Science Excellence
Received December 2026
Union Fellow
Received December 2021
Ambassador Award
Received December 2021
Citation
Dr.
Ambrose Jearld has made intentional commitments to support the
fostering of more inclusive research and learning environments for
early-career Earth and space system scholars from underinvested
communities. Throughout his professional career, Ambrose’s
people-centered vision has propelled him to be a leader in empowering
early-career scholars to explore educational, research and potential
career opportunities that they would not have normally considered. He
has uniquely applied systems approaches to address justice, equity,
diversity and inclusion issues in the Earth and space sciences (ESS),
and his ability to garner resources and collaborators in support of
these efforts has been transformative. Ambrose’s professional efforts
have been multisectored,
and his organizational acumen has been on display for decades. He has
held positions of authority within academia, the public sector (NOAA)
and nonprofit organizations, where he has demonstrated that true
leadership qualities are transferrable and service to the community for
the greater good is a worthy goal of any professional regardless of area
of expertise. Ambrose has easily relayed the importance of supporting
the people who conduct the science through his past volunteer service on
the AGU Council, through his presidential role at the National
Technical Association and as a visionary founder of the innovative
Partnership Education Program at the Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution (WHOI). The number of honors, citations, recognitions and
even a named lectureship at a world premier research institution like
WHOI highlight the quality of Ambrose’s career efforts, the products of
his leadership and the sustainability of his caring and training of the
upcoming generations of ESS scientists and professionals.
— Brandon Jones National Science Foundation Alexandria, Virginia
Response
I
am grateful to receive an Ambassador Award from AGU. It is an honor to
share this award with Aradhna E. Tripati from the University of
California, Los Angeles, as well as to be included with all the
distinguished scientists who are receiving awards this year.
Working for equity, access and inclusion has been the emphasis of my
personal and professional work. My commitment to diversity has been
guided and supported by many people and organizations. Brad Brown was my
first postbaccalaureate mentor and has been long actively involved in
the work of civil rights and diversity in the sciences. Ashanti Johnson,
Ben Cuker, the late Claudia Alexander and others too numerous to name
were instrumental in founding cohort programs that helped open the doors
for marginalized and underrepresented people to enter the geological
and oceanic sciences. I have been involved in these organizations in
many roles, from graduate student to mentor. I'd also like to recognize
Brendon Jones, who nominated me for this award and who also participated
in a number of these cohort groups. Finally, throughout my career, I've
had the love and support of my family.
Diversity in the ocean and Earth sciences is critical. All of us are
part of the environment; all of us have a vital interest in the health
of the waters and shorelines. The land and seas belong to all of us. We
are still finding opportunities to include the wisdom and knowledge of
more people in our understanding. We are still finding ways to honor the
hidden figures who have supported inclusion, access and equity in
understanding our shared environment. We are still working on sharing
power so that all voices may be truly represented. I accept this award
in recognition of the work that has been done by so many and the work
that still remains.
— Ambrose Jearld Jr., NOAA (retired) and Woods Hole Partnership Education Program, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
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